The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) is considering heavy fines and land-use conversion fees for illegal housing schemes developed in green areas that were later reclassified as residential or mixed-use zones under the Lahore Division Master Plan 2050.
The proposed measures would require developers of such schemes to pay penalties or face other regulatory action before their projects could be regularized.
However, housing schemes located in areas that are still classified as green zones will remain illegal and will not be regularized.
According to Dawn, a senior LDA official said several housing schemes were developed illegally in green areas, where plot owners quickly constructed houses and moved in. Commercial facilities were also established to meet residents’ needs.
The official explained that the subsequent conversion of some green areas into brown zones created problems for developers who had legally acquired land at higher prices and invested in development.
To address this issue, authorities have proposed strict penalties and land-use conversion charges to discourage illegal development and protect developers who follow legal procedures.
The official clarified that no regularization would be allowed for illegal housing schemes that remain within designated green areas, and action would be taken against them.
The Lahore Division Master Plan 2050 was initially completed in 2022, but its implementation was suspended by the Lahore High Court in January 2023 following a legal challenge.
In February, the LDA’s governing body approved the completion of the plan after negotiations with consultants over the Rs320 million expenditure sought following a court order.
The master plan outlines Lahore’s future urban expansion, including a proposed new city center in Gulberg. It covers Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur and Nankana Sahib, with a focus on housing, transportation, healthcare, education, agriculture, industry and infrastructure development.
Meanwhile, the Environment Department and LDA recently held a public hearing to gather feedback on the plan’s environmental impact and urban development challenges.
Officials said public recommendations and feedback from the Environment Department are being incorporated into the planning process.
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